FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending December 18, 2009

Washington, D.C.
December 18, 2009

FBI National Press Office(202) 324-3691

Atlanta: Georgia Terrorism Defendants Sentenced

Ehsanul Islam Sadequee of Roswell, Georgia, and Syed Haris Ahmed of Atlanta, Georgia, were sentenced to 17 years and 13 years in prison, respectively, following their convictions earlier this year in separate criminal trials for providing material support to terrorists.

Boston: Colombo Family Street Boss Indicted as Head of Massachusetts RICO Crew

Ralph F. Deleo, Franklin M. Goldman, Edmond Kulesza, and George Wylie Thompson were charged in an indictment with criminal conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. The Indictment alleges that Deleo, who was the “street boss” of the Colombo Family of La Cosa Nostra, directed and controlled the operations of the Deleo Crew, which included Goldman, Kulesza, and Thompson. They allegedly engaged in the importation, trafficking, and distribution of narcotics and controlled substances, including cocaine and marijuana; extortion; loan sharking; and interstate and foreign travel in aid of racketeering. It is alleged that the Deleo Crew operated principally in the areas of Massachusetts, Arkansas, Rhode Island, New York, and Florida.

Thirty people have been charged in Miami, Detroit, and Brooklyn for their alleged roles in schemes to submit more than $61 million in false Medicare claims as part of the continuing operation of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Also, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services announced the expansion of Strike Force operations to Brooklyn, Tampa, and Baton Rouge, in the fifth, sixth, and seventh phases of a targeted criminal, civil, and administrative effort against individuals and health care companies that fraudulently bill the Medicare program.

New York: Credit Suisse Agrees to Forfeit $536 Million for Violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and New York State Law

Credit Suisse AG, a Swiss corporation headquartered in Zurich, agreed to forfeit $536 million to the United States and to the New York County District Attorney’s Office in connection with violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and New York state law. The forfeiture is the largest ever entered against an entity for IEEPA violations.

San Juan: Two Doctors and 101 Individuals Indicted and Arrested for Mail Fraud Conspiracy

A federal grand jury issued a 162-count indictment, charging 101 defendants with mail fraud conspiracy and mail fraud. A separate six-count indictment related to the same scheme charged six individuals with mail fraud conspiracy and mail fraud. Doctors José A. Fontanillas-Pino and Edwin Pérez-Loran, of Quebradillas, Puerto Rico, are the lead defendants in each indictment. The victim of the offenses charged in both indictments was American Family Life Assurance Company, which paid out over $800,000 to its policyholders as a result of the fraudulent scheme.

Philadelphia: Two Shenandoah Men and Four Police Officers Indicted for Hate Crime and Related Corruption

Multiple indictments were unsealed related to a fatal racially motivated beating and related police corruption in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. The three indictments include federal hate crime, obstruction of justice, conspiracy, official misconduct, and extortion charges.

Won Sok Lee, formerly of Singer Island, Florida, was sentenced to 298 months in prison on wire fraud charges for his participation in a massive hedge fund fraud scheme. In addition, he was ordered to pay more than $78.5 million in restitution.

New York: Leader of Hijacking and Robbery Crew Connected to Diamond District Convicted

Hector Rivera was convicted on all counts after a one-week jury trial. The charges arose from his leadership of a robbery and extortion crew involved in robberies connected to the Diamond District in midtown Manhattan, including the planned hijacking of Federal Express tractor-trailer trucks and the robbery of a wholesale diamond business.

Washington Field/Richmond: Virginia Resident Charged with Conspiring to Bribe Former Panamanian Government Officials for Maritime Contract

John W. Warwick was charged with conspiracy to pay bribes to former Panamanian government officials to secure maritime contracts for Ports Engineering Consultants Corporation in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Boston: Former Financial Adviser Charged in $4.3 Million Embezzlement Scheme

Stephen Clifford, a former Plymouth financial adviser was charged in federal court with the willful violation of the Investment Advisers Act, one count of mail fraud, one count of wire fraud, and three counts of subscribing to a false tax return. The charges relate to Clifford’s theft of $4.3 million from his clients.